Jack Sprat dwarf flax

Phormium 'Jack Sprat'

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Description

One of the most successful dwarf flax cultivars available today is Phormium 'Jack Sprat'. This petite perennial grows to 1 1/2 ft. tall with tightly clustered reddish-plum colored foliage. Both its size and color make it well suited to small landscape spaces, along borders and for year around color. It is also popular for use in mass plantings. Like other flax cultivars, it is best to avoid garden areas with hot sun exposures and to sustain it with regular water throughout the year. It is adaptable to many soil conditions.

Water Needs

The Jack Sprat dwarf flax is well suited to partial shade to sun and grows with moderate amounts of water throughout the year. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several winter months marked by an asterisk (*) when rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; higher amounts of water will result in stronger springtime growth and summer foliage character.

Maintenance

New Zealand Flax is generally a lower maintenance plant in coastal areas but takes far more work to keep looking good inland. If growing, try to plant somewhere with afternoon shade or light overhead shade because leaves and leaf tips often burn in full direct sun in inland gardens during the summer. If this happens, significantly burnt leaves should be removed to the base and tip burnt leaves can be trimmed to clean up. When trimming strapped leaf plants including New Zealand Flax, make your cuts at a diagonal angle. This will keep a more natural look. Horizontal cuts across the leaf look funny (D,S). Remove dead leaves any time of the year as needed, and cut out spent flower stalks (5).